It has been more than 20 years since Johnny G introduced Spinning® and transformed the stationary bike from a solo piece of cardio equipment into a new group-fitness phenomenon called indoor cycling. The Spinning bike's design, with the heavy flywheel, chain drive and friction resistance, offered a pedaling experience that mimicked that of an actual road bike. "It was a brilliant design that created the ability to get on top of the gear and keep it rolling," says Colin Irving, creator of the RealRyder® bike and co-founder of RealRyder® International. Douglas Brooks adds, "Since Johnny G introduced the Spinning bike, there has really been nothing new about the riding experience, until now."

It is this "riding experience" that inspired Brooks, an international leader in fitness education, to get involved with RealRyder International as director of programming and education. "I never got on board as a master trainer with any other indoor-cycling program," says Brooks, who is unequivocal in his belief that RealRyder has succeeded in bringing the "ride" of an outdoor bike indoors. "Finally," he says, "someone got it right."

The RealRyder Bike

For more information about the RealRyder ABF8 and instructor training classes, or to locate a class in your area, visit www.RealRyder.com.At first glance, the RealRyder ABF8 has similar features to other indoor cycling bikes, such as adjustable handlebar and seat positions, a resistance knob, water-bottle holders, and pedals with both cleats and toe straps. The drive train is similar to the original Johnny G Spinning bike, with a chain drive and fixed gear, friction resistance and a weighted flywheel. "We followed this pedaling design because it works," explains Irving.

Still, the RealRyder bike has some unique features that distinguish it from other indoor cycles. For example, it features a sleek bike frame with geometry similar to that of a road bike, creating a cockpit for the rider that feels like a real bike. The large silver flywheel, positioned where the rear wheel is located on an actual bike, weighs a reported 66 pounds, giving it a smoother ride quality than the lighter flywheels common to other indoor cycles. But the RealRyder's greatest distinction is that it enables riders to tilt, lean and rock the bike.

The RealRyder ABF8 has two pivot points, one behind the seat post and one below the front of the frame, which run along a single descending axis, and a functional headset that allows the rider to actually turn the handlebars. These features combine to allow the RealRyder ABF8 to rock back and forth, lean and turn like a real bike, and the actual bike geometry adds to the real cycling feel. "People consistently comment on how they love the freedom and joy of the ride they get on a RealRyder," says Brooks.

But beyond the joy factor, it is the quality of the ride that Brooks and other cyclists are referring to when they say that Colin Irving "got it right" when he developed the concept of the RealRyder bike more than 15 years ago. "As a competitive cyclist, I spent many hours training on rollers in the hallway (for balance) and thought how nice it would be to just turn," explains Irving, describing how he came up with the concept for the RealRyder bike. This led to sketches on training logs, cardboard, paper or whatever was available. "I wanted to create a riding experience, not just pedaling," he says.